Imphal:

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) in a statement said it has received positively the government’s imposition of President’s Rule in the violence-hit state, and the move will help pave the way for political settlements and peaceful coexistence.

“We are hopeful it (President’s Rule) would pave the way for due political settlements and peaceful coexistence (of Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals) as good neighbours,” KZC secretary (information) Khaikhohauh Gangte said.

Referring to comments by BJP’s northeast incharge Sambit Patra that Manipur’s territorial integrity will not be touched, the KZC in a statement said, “Patra may be unaware or has chosen not to be aware that Meitei physically violated Manipur’s territorial integrity on May 3, 2023, when they massacred, attacked church buildings, destroyed the homes, and forcefully displaced the Kuki-Zo people from the Imphal valley.”

The KZC alleged the government led by former chief minister N Biren Singh carried out “ethnic cleansing”, which led to the separation of Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-dominant Meiteis demographically and physically.

“Kuki-Zo are not separatists, Meiteis have separated Kuki-Zo from Manipur. More than 250 Kuki-Zo people have died in this ethnic conflict, over 7,000 Kuki-Zo homes have been destroyed, more than 360 places of worship have been set on fire or destroyed, and more than 40,000 Kuki-Zo people have become homeless,” the KZC said in the statement.

Mr Patra in Imphal on Friday said the 60-member state assembly was put under suspended animation, meaning the assembly can be revived whenever the President deems it fit.

“The BJP government is committed to continuing peace efforts in the state and to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur. There would be no compromise on the territorial integrity of the state. Illegal infiltration into Manipur would not be allowed in any circumstances and such attempts would be dealt with severely,” Mr Patra had told reporters.

Speculation is that the BJP is trying to choose a leader who will be acceptable among all communities – Kuki-Zo-Hmar, Naga tribes, and the non-tribal Meiteis. The Kuki tribes and the Meiteis have been fighting since May 2023 over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation.

Separate Administration Demand

Kuki groups, including militant organisations that represent their tribes and that signed the controversial suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre and the state government, have pointed at the ethnic clashes as the reason why they escalated their demand from an autonomous council to a separate administration, or a Union Territory with an assembly.

The World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC), however, in a memorandum to Manipur’s new Governor on January 15 said the Kuki tribes have been demanding a state “since 1946-47.”

The internally displaced people from both communities are yet to return home.

Kuki leaders have said a “political solution” in the form of a separate administration should be discussed first before any other issues, including the return of thousands of people living in relief camps.

Meitei leaders have, however, cited this condition placed by the Kuki leaders as a deceitful attempt to set up a narrative for an ethnocentric homeland demand; the Meitei leaders’ argument is that talks can go on while at the same time people living in difficult conditions in the camps can also return home since no territory is ethnic exclusive.

The demand for an ethnocentric homeland is untenable and obsolete in Manipur, where at least 35 communities co-exist, a group of activists and academics from the violence-hit state bordering Myanmar had said at a side event of the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in October.

Over 250 have died and 60,000 have been internally displaced in the Manipur clashes.

Imphal:

There is no organisation called “Kuki-Zo Council” and no district by the name “Lamka” in Manipur, the state government said in a statement on Thursday. This group had objected to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh passing through Kangpokpi district in order to reach Senapati district, where Mr Singh participated in a local festival.

“The government of Manipur would like to address certain claims made by an organisation identifying itself as the Kuki-Zo Council recently. Upon investigation, it has been found that no such organisation exists in Manipur,” the government said in the statement.

“The origin and authenticity of this group are highly questionable. There is no district by the name Lamka, mentioned as a headquarters [of the group] in Manipur. This raises strong suspicions regarding the external origins of such organisations that appear to operate outside legal and administrative frameworks,” the government said.

The police are looking into this matter and a case will be filed to ascertain the true nature and intent behind such misleading activities, the government said in the statement, adding the “people of Manipur are urged to exercise caution and not to pay heed to statements or claims from organisations of dubious origins, which have been surfacing recently with the apparent intention of creating confusion and unrest.”

It said in light of growing security concerns arising out of influx from neighbouring countries, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has reimposed the Protected Area Regime in Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland.

With this reimposition, the movement of foreigners visiting Manipur will be closely monitored, and they are required to obtain the permits under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, the government said.

The state government said updates will be shared as the investigation progresses. It requested the media to refrain from giving publicity to statements given by unauthorised organisations and individuals.

“The central government and its agencies are also appealed to disregard such claims from unverified organisations. The restoration of peace and harmony amongst our communities is of utmost importance at this juncture more than ever. The government will not tolerate any action that threatens to disrupt the peace process,” it said.